Author Christine d’Abo

Well I have a very busy week ahead. I found out last week that I got a promotion at my day job. That means I have to move my family again…and in a relatively short time frame. So we’re cleaning, packing and house hunting, all while working, writing and doing school stuff with my girls. My husband has been busy finishing the fourth bedroom in the basement so things will show well.

Now I just need someone to buy my house.

Having finished my submission for EC’s Caveman series, I’m ready to keep the momentum going and want to dive into another book. So I have my urban paranormal with me today and I plan on giving what I have done a good read over at lunch. (Amy, the song was Prayer by the band Disturbed)

Some people have asked me why I don’t take breaks in between writing projects. The answer is simply - I can’t. My brain races at 10,000 miles an hour. The busier I am, the more it races. I find by writing my stories, it helps me focus on just one thing (instead of the 20 that I have going on), and takes my stress level down a few notches. The more stressed I am, the faster I write.

Considering I’ve written 2 novellas, co-authored a novel, and wrote another novel, I’ve had a stressful year.

I did it!! I just finished my story that I’m going to be submitting for Ellora’s Cave Caveman anthology. It only took a week, but I have to admit I got lucky. Things just seemed to click into place with this one, the writing, the research…everything. Let’s hope the editors at EC like it enough to want to include it in the series this year.

With that goal checked off my list, I find myself getting ready to start another project. I think I’m going either dive into the urban romance more or bounce back and take another look at the Brava novella that I have started. Either way, I’m pumped and ready to go.

I’m not sure if you know this, but I have very eclectic musical tastes. I’m more of a hard rock girl, but I love artists like Lorena McKennitt and Sarah Brightman as well. Who I’m not really a fan of is Celine Dione.

And then I heard her newest song this morning on the radio… Wow! I’d have to listen to it again to get a feel for whether or not this is a CD I’d want to buy, but it was amazingly different. I guess it pays to keep an open mind.

But I have to admit…I was a little bit scared…

I’ve been trying some different things this week as well. I’m reading a Stuart Woods book, which isn’t my normal reading genre. So far I’m really enjoying this one. I like how he’s built up the political backstory and the mystery. I’m also watching NCIS on DVD. My dad loaned me his copy and told me I had to watch it. Since I love Law & Order and the CSI’s I figured it would be worth a shot. I love it so far! I’m hoping he’ll pick up season two so I can watch it also LOL!

This weekend I plan on finishing my Caveman story, and then will send it off to my wonderfully, beautifully and talented critique partners…I love you guys!! My daughter has two birthday parties to go to this weekend, so that will keep us hopping as well.

So what are you up to this beautiful Friday? What are your plans for the weekend?

My husband and I just spent the last week and a half watching season three of House. We only came to the show this summer and have thoughly enjoyed it. One of my favourite things about it, is House’s sarcastic nature. I thought for this week’s Thursday Thirteen, I’d post thriteen of my favourite House quotes!

1. Dr. Cameron: Men should grow up.
Dr. Gregory House: Yeah. And dogs should stop licking themselves. It’s not gonna happen.

2. Dr. Gregory House: How does someone just start drooling? Chase? Were you wearing your short shorts?

3. [someone is groaning in the restroom stall]
Dr. Gregory House: Good lord, are you having a bowel movement or a baby?

4. Anica Jovanovich: You know, I was going to ask what a respectable doctor was doing in an OTB parlor… somehow, that question doesn’t seem relevant any more.
Dr. Gregory House: What’s your excuse?
Anica Jovanovich: Turns me on.
Dr. Gregory House: What else turns you on? Drugs? Casual sex? Rough sex?
[pause]
Dr. Gregory House: Casual rough sex? I’m a doctor, I need to know

5. Dr. Robert Chase: How’d you like it if I interfered in your personal life?
Dr. Gregory House: I’d hate it. That’s why, cleverly, I have no personal life.

6. Dr. Lisa Cuddy: I need you to wear your lab coat.
Dr. Gregory House: I need two days of outrageous sex with someone obscenely younger than you. Like half your age.

7. Dr. Gregory House: Like I always say, there’s no “I” in team. There’s a “me” though, if you jumble it up.

8. Dr. Gregory House: I’m extremely disappointed. I send you out for exciting, new designer drugs, you come back with tomato sauce.

9. Dr. Gregory House: I take risks, sometimes patients die, but not taking risks causes more patients to die - so I guess my biggest problem is I’ve been cursed with the ability to do the math.

10. Dr. Gregory House: I teach you to lie, cheat, and steal, and as soon as my back’s turned you wait in line?

11. Dr. Wilson: Did you know your phone is dead? Do you ever recharge the batteries?
Dr. Gregory House: They recharge? I just keep buying new phones.

12. Dr. Gregory House: Would the world be a better place if people never felt guilty? Makes sex better. Shoulda seen her in the last months of our relationship. Lot of guilt. *Lot* of screaming.

13. [House opens door loudly]
Dr. Wilson: Ahh!
Dr. Gregory House: Nineteen year old, didn’t want to hear the coolest explanation of why she’s going to die… begged me to shut up!
Dr. Gregory House: [slams the door]
Dr. Wilson: [cringes] Well, if you cant shut up, at least talk quietly.
Dr. Gregory House: [turns on lights] Anphedamine withdrawel’s a bitch. She thought, that I was HAPPY!
[stares at wilson]
Dr. Wilson: You were, happy?
Dr. Gregory House: NO! I was hazy! And I dont get HAZY on vicodin, or anything else I throw down… Which means, I was throwing down something that I didn’t know I was throwing down. And that got me to wondering, why didn’t you give me those HAPPY pills?
Dr. Wilson: I told you, you gotta be checked out by…
Dr. Gregory House: NO! You just didn’t want me double-dosing!
Dr. Gregory House: [wilson looks embarressed] YOU DOSED ME! Those coffees…
Dr. Wilson: They worked! You’ve been smiling, relaxed, happy!
Dr. Gregory House: A dying girl thought I was happy… a MORON thought I was happy! Who the hell doesn’t want to know she’s dying?
Dr. Wilson: House… was HAPPY.
Dr. Gregory House: HAZY!
Dr. Wilson: HAPPY.

I love a good challenge. I love to push myself to see how much and how well I can perform, especially under pressure. I’ve been like that my whole life, always getting in over my head to see how well I can swim. Interesting character flaw that’s gotten me into trouble on a few occasions.

What this particular trait of mine has decided I should do right now, is write a story and enter it for consideration for the Ellora’s Cave Caveman series. The deadline is September 30th. I know a lot of my fellow EC authors are polishing their manuscripts, but I hadn’t even started thinking about it until yesterday.

So I wrote a chapter…and now I’m hooked. I’m going to try and push through the first draft this week, looking to have most of it done by Sunday. Then it will be off to someone to read over (because I don’t trust myself when I write this fast to catch all my mistakes), and off to the editor.

Crazy?? Maybe, but I’ll have a lot of fun.

As writers, we get lots of challenges every day, both internally and externally. My good friend Red was issued a challenge by a reviewer to write a hero who wasn’t as harsh. A kinder, gentler Alpha if you will.

You need to check out her amusing response on her website.

Finally, I found out last night that my EC Quickie Chasing Phoenix, will be released December 14th!! I’m so excited for this story to come out. It’s hot, spicy and good for a giggle.

Today is a super busy day for me. I have a lot on my plate, both at home and at work. The good news is I finally settled on a project to work on this week. I’m really happy to have found my groove again.

We are also almost done watching season three of House. Man, I love that show!! We should finish the last disk tonight, which means I’ll be all set for the season premiere in two weeks.

I’m also posting over at Six Degrees of Sexy today. Ironically, the topic is on Time Management and how I try to keep all my priorities in the air. Please stop by and say hello!

So today is my first day back at the EDJ. Things are crazy (which I was expecting), but it’s nice to get back into the routine.

My writing went well towards the end of the week, though I’m still not able to focus on any one project. In fact, I’ve gone back to an old manuscript that I thought I would just let die. It may not be as bad as I thought at first, so I’m going to see if I can clean it up. And by clean it up,  I mean spice it up! I’ll keep you posted.

I hope you all watched Test The Nation: Watch Your Language last night. My husband took the test and beat me by one (curses!!). For those of you who were curious, I got 56 out of 70 right, or 80%.

I’m going to try and visit everyone’s site today, but I might be slow…

How was your weekend?!?

Good happy Friday morning!!!

Yes, I’ve had a coffee!!

But that’s because there is so much going on over the next few days, I needed the extra boots to keep me going. What’s going on??

Well, first off Test The Nation: Watch Your Language is airing on CBC TV this Sunday, September 9th at 8:00pm EST. That’s right, you’ll get to see me, Wylie and Amy test our wits, seeing how much we know about the English language.

Wylie carried me through the spelling part…

The cool thing about this game show, is you’ll be able to play along at home! Let me know what your score is on Monday morning and I’ll tell you mine. So all you Canadians, or people who are fortunate enough to be able to pick up CBC, check it out and support us!

Today, I’m also blogging over at Six Degrees of Sexy. Please stop by and check out my interview with the fablous Cathryn Fox!

Speaking of buying…yes I had to stretch for that one…Six Degrees of Sexy also has a new store out! You can buy all sorts of cool merchandise and look just as sexy as me! Better act now before I come to my senses and take this picture down! You can check out the SDoS store HERE or visit our website at http://www.sixdegreesofsexy.com/.

Have a great weekend!!

Tonight I had to go buy school supplies for my oldest daughter for school. Now, I don’t know about the rest of the parents out there, but I have a love/hate relationship when it comes to school shopping. Love to get new “stuff” - hate having to pay for new “stuff”. Man, it’s freaking expensive!!

The teachers are also very particular about brands of school supplies, both for quality and equity reasons. So I thought for my TT list this week, I’d share thirteen things that were on my daughter’s grade three supply list.

1. 3 pkg. Hillroy Scribblers

2. 4 Campfire Notebooks

3. 12 Duotangs (2 each of black, blue, green, yellow, red, orange)

4. 6 Erasers (white)

5. 1 30 cm Ruler (clear and not bendable)

6. 1 pkg. 16-24 Crayola Crayons

7. 1 pkg 24 Coloured Pencils (Crayola)

8. 1 pkg Crayola Thin Markers

9. 1 pkg Crayola Thick Markers

10. 5 Large Glue Sticks

11. 1 Pair Scissors (pointed)

12. 20 Pencils (please sharpen)

13. 1 Highlighter

Oh, there was a lot more on the list. I think it came to a grand total of $55 dollars after all was said and done. The pain…

*flops down in front of her laptop*

Okay I’ve had a busy day so far today, and none of it revolved around writing. What’s up with that!! But the kids are off to school, the new car is registered, banking done, I even had time to go for a coffee with my husband, so life is good.

This afternoon, I’ll be writing.

Yesterday, I finished the edits on Wizard’s Thief (woohoo!!), and mailed my submission off to the agent. I didn’t look at Bond That Heals Us. I think I’m going to leave it for a bit. It only needs one more read through, and I’m not sending it to my agent for a few weeks, so I have lots of time.

Today’s adventure will be to finish writing the novella I entered into the Brava contest. Good idea to have it done…just in case.